Roberto & me
Dan Gutman
Roberto & me
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Dan Gutman
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
The crack of a baseball echoes under a bright blue sky, mixed with the salty breeze of the ocean. Suddenly, Stosh is not just watching history—he’s living it, stepping into the shoes of a legend who changed the game and the world. But can he save Roberto Clemente from a fate that seems already written?
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows Stosh as he time-travels to meet baseball icon Roberto Clemente, aiming to prevent a tragic event. The story weaves sports history with important themes of heroism, humanitarianism, and environmental awareness, appropriate for children ages 9 to 12. Parents should note the book involves historical tragedy but handles it with sensitivity.
Why we rated Roberto & me 9ME
Roberto & me is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 180 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Roberto & me works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Roberto & me as 9ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Roberto & me explores sports, historical, adventure, coming of age, and science & nature — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about sports, historical, adventure.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
I Am Roberto Clemente
Jim Gigliotti
I Am Roberto Clemente
Jim Gigliotti
Roberto Clemente (Soar to success)
Kenneth Rudeen
Roberto Clemente (Soar to success)
Kenneth Rudeen
Roberto Clemente
Stew Thornley
Roberto Clemente
Stew Thornley
Roberto Clemente
W. Mara
Roberto Clemente
W. Mara
Roberto's Bat (Summit Books)
Allen B. Boyer
Roberto's Bat (Summit Books)
Allen B. Boyer
Roberto Clemente
Dona Rice
Roberto Clemente
Dona Rice
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780061234866
- Pages
- 180
- Publisher
- Harper
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction